Two batters into Saturday evening’s game, Jordan Zimmermann and the Nationals already were trailing the Giants 2-0, and a rain-soaked crowd of 34,137 was murmuring, perhaps worried all the good vibes of the 10-game winning streak that ended Friday night were about to disappear into thin air.

On the mound, though, Zimmermann barely batted an eyelash. The right-hander already is one of the most-composed, least-frazzled pitcher in baseball, but he had even more reason not to worry after watching Hunter Pence somehow tattoo an 0-2, 94-mph that was tracked 15 inches above the top of the strike zone.

“There’s only one guy in the game that’s going to hit that pitch, and that’s him,” Zimmermann said. “I threw it right where I wanted it: 0-2, up by his shoulders. Beats me how he hit it that far.”

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything that good,” manager Matt Williams added. “That’s hard to do. And to get on top of it enough to drive it. … I’ve never seen anything like that.”

The Nationals could laugh about Pence’s homer at night’s end, because it was the lone blip on an otherwise dominant performance by Zimmermann and his teammates during what became a 6-2 victory.

Retiring 23-of-28 San Francisco batters faced after the home run, Zimmermann cruised through yet another impressive outing. Though he owns a pedestrian 4-1 record over his last 11 starts, the Nationals have gone on to win nine of those games, during which time he has posted a 2.91 ERA.

Among the keys to Zimmermann’s success: His steady demeanor and refusal to let one bad development ruin his outing.

“He didn’t get rattled at all (after the homer),” center fielder Denard Span said. “If anything, it seemed like he just focused a little bit more and buckled down and kept them right there. It gave us a chance to win.”

Zimmermann was aided Saturday by some early run support, which came in the form of six runs against a befuddled Tim Lincecum, who unceremoniously was yanked before completing three innings for only the second time in his star-studded career. Span and Jayson Werth drove in runs with base hits up the middle, and Asdrubal Cabrera added a solo homer into the Red Porch in left-center.

“I just think it was a really good approach today: middle of the diamond,” Williams said. “Jayson had a couple of perfect base hits with guys in scoring position. Just the other way, to the right-center field gap, didn’t try to do too much. Just hit the single over there we needed. That’s how you sustain innings. That’s how you put up crooked numbers.”

Zimmermann, meanwhile, prevents the opposition from posting crooked numbers by using his full repertoire of pitches over the course of a game to get batters out even on their third or fourth plate appearance. He relied mostly on his fastball and slider early Saturday, then turned to his curveball and changeup later on, leading to eight strikeouts and a relatively low pitch count of 107 after eight innings.

“Usually I try to get through the lineup the first time with fastballs and maybe a few sliders,” he said. “Later on in the game, when they see me more than once, I start to mix in more curveballs. I was able to do that. We scored some runs early, and I was able to settle in after that and not have the pressure of a 1-run game.”

And the Nationals, despite going stone-cold silent at the plate after Lincecum was pulled, were able to cruise through a comfortable victory, not once feeling like they were in jeopardy of dropping two straight games after winning 10 in a row.

“It would be easy for a team to say, ‘Oh well, here we go,’ after the top of the first,” Williams said. “They didn’t. They answered and drew even after the first, and that says something about those guys. We play hard every game.”

I have to say, tho, that I was struck by the difference in how Mark wrote up the 2 games. This one notes JZimm’s “steady demeanor” after the homer and follows it up with a quote along the same lines from Span (or was that Denard talking?).

His write up earlier in the week said lots of nice things about Stras (I went back and read it again) but nothing about Stras being unflappable, steady, unshaken, etc. after the 1st inning homer in that game.

Good to know who the cupcake went to! I was the baker, not the birthday girl, but glad to share some birthday fun with you, either way! Wasn’t it nice for the Nats to win for the two of you?? Let’s do it again today!

Wow, what is Bryan Price doing? Aroldis Chapman missed 4 days with a sore shoulder. He returned Thursday and threw 15 pitches. Then yesterday, he pitched 2 innings and threw a career-high 37 pitches. And now they’re putting him back out there again.

MW is far from perfect, but you appreciate him a lot more when you see what some of these other managers do.

Even if he didn’t play, why didn’t he pinch hit? They put in Ryan Doumit as pinch hitter in the 8th. This Ryan Doumit .197 .238 .287

rayvil01 - Aug 24, 2014 at 9:50 AM

Fredi does some curious stuff. Starting Gattis in Left Field for the playoffs last year was one of my favorite Fredi moves ever. Just brain dead.

I hope they don’t fire him. Him being there helps us.

ArVAFan - Aug 24, 2014 at 8:03 AM

So, when should Mark put up the Magic Number? September 1? When it gets down to 20? RIGHT NOW?

Looking at the schedule, if I’m doing the math right, it appears possible that we might be in a position to clinch the division in the second week of September, at home, . . . against the Braves. If things work out like that, and this is by no means a prediction, that would be a celebration on South Capitol Street that would make the 2012 clinching look like the 2012 Wild-Card-clinching night.

If I’ve done my sums wrong, I’m sure another NI’er will correct me, and I’ll go back to doing taxes.

I really think Denard deserves to get the Gold Glove this year. Somebody needs to really start promoting that concept.

Joe Seamhead - Aug 24, 2014 at 8:24 AM

So now Joe Theismann says Cousins should be the starter on the local football team, not the savior RG111. Great, so that will be about all we will hear about on the National’s “flagship” station for the next week. Why can’t this town have a station that truly dedicates more time to baseball, with freaking baseball knowledgable sportscasters? It was so pleasant to hear the interview with Jon Miller yesterday before the rain delayed start. Oh! What would I give for a Red Barber type guy?

How can the baseball pennant races trump football pre season games. This is the only time of the year the Redskins have hope

ArVAFan - Aug 24, 2014 at 9:30 AM

Front page of “dead tree” edition of the Post has Nats story (below the fold, but not just the quick note at the top of the page). Football in the sports section . . . as it should be this time of year.

Section 222 - Aug 24, 2014 at 9:10 AM

Best solution is to not listen to that “flagship station” except when the Nats are playing, and maybe after the games until you get sick of Phil Wood’s schtick. What a joke. Whenever they are talking Nats I get frustrated anyway.

Considering the caliber of commentary on sports talk radio, Nats fans should probably be grateful to be ignored.

Joe Seamhead - Aug 24, 2014 at 9:31 AM

Agreed that there is good stuff on the net, but ball fans in this town deserve a decent home station with Nationals dedicated programing. Maybe the Lerners should start their own Nationals network.

If I were a rich man…

Joe Seamhead - Aug 24, 2014 at 9:33 AM

Also, I very rarely listen to that “flagship station” other than when the Nats are playing, but I would if there was anything worth listening to.

Section 222 - Aug 24, 2014 at 9:35 AM

Great idea Joe. Their first hire could be MarkZ. Oh wait, then he’d disappear like Amanda Comak has. That was a loss. I hope she’s enjoying a hopefully much bigger salary than she had at the Wash Times.

“thelatencn on August 24, 2014 at 8:16 am
Another two hit game for Denard Span last night. The man deserves more attention. I propose we dub him Denard “Attention” Span.”

Span’s defense has gone to a new level. I still have Rendon, Span, Werth, Clip, Fister, JZim, Desi, ALR, Ramos, Sori, Bryce as the top players on this team.

Rendon is tops in runs scored and late inning offense and that makes The Texas Yawner my #1 and Spam and Rendon are now the best 1-2 punch in the Majors.

Joe Seamhead - Aug 24, 2014 at 9:52 AM

Just as in 2012, I don’t see a MVP on this team.this again is the epitome of a team. One could make a MVP argument for several guys on this team, but Though I see several having really good seasons, no one player stands out to me as being the most valuable.

Joe, Correctomundo. Just a bunch of guys who pick each other up. No superstars. Once Bryce realizes he doesnt have to carry this team he will help more by his own addition by subtraction on bonehead plays.

What’s better than the streak Desi is on with taking walks? Get on base in front of Bryce and the Buffalo.

This team is now stacked 1-8 and everyone is contributing. No player has to feel like they have to singularly carry the team on their back.

Section 222 - Aug 24, 2014 at 10:31 AM

Ok fine. But Span is still the MVP this year. Setting the table at the top, playing great D, clutch hits (and that steal). Either him or Rendon — the guy you most want up with a RISP late in the game.

Oh, and I’ll be at the Sec 312 picnic tables if I get there in time. If you don’t know what I look like, well, you know what a walker looks like, right?

Joe Seamhead - Aug 24, 2014 at 11:22 AM

We usually sit in sec 311 but today’s game is not on our plan and my grandsons gave us two free tix in the outfield for today. Taking the Metro for the first time in a couple of years. Probably won’t walk all the way to the tables.

sjm308 - Aug 24, 2014 at 11:51 AM

Seam:

good luck with the sun!!
We made a mistake in our 2nd year at Nationals Park and moved out to Left Field
Just rough on day games, especially those hot humid ones and I honestly had a hard time tracking the ball.
So glad I talked my group back into 308 after just one year.

Have Fun

Joe Seamhead - Aug 24, 2014 at 1:03 PM

308, we’re in our seats in 142. We’re actually in the shade, but you can’t see RF and CF plays against the wall. I’m always happy to be with Mrs. Seamhead at the park though.